Fish hook for use with a plastic worm

ABSTRACT

A weedless plastic worm rig characterized by a leader, a conical slip sinker slidable on the leader, a plastic worm and a long shank sproat hook. The trailing end of the shank terminates in a relatively short pointed barb. The leading end is doubled upon itself to form a line attaching eye and embodies a J-shaped terminal end portion which is wholly embedded and anchored in the head of the worm to prevent the worm from sliding down the shank. The short pointed barb is embedded in the worm to assume an upward bite-responsive locale immediately under the surface of the skin of the worm.

tates atent Lindner 'et al.

[ 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] FISH HOOK FOR USE WITH A PLASTIC WORM [22] Filed:Mar. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 120,946

3,023,536 3/l962 Williams ..43/43.2

Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Assistant Examiner-Daniel J. LeachAtt0meyClarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT AWeedless plastic worm rig characterized by a leader, a conical slipsinker slidable on the leader, a plastic worm and a long shank sproathook. The trailing end of the shank terminates in a relatively shortpointed barb. The leading end is doubled upon itself to form a lineattaching eye and embodies a J-shaped terminal end portion which iswholly embedded and anchored in the head of the worm to prevent the wormfrom sliding down the shank. vThe short pointed-barb is embedded in theworm to assume an upward bite-responsive locale immediately under thesurface of the skin of the worm.

6 Claims, 6'Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPM I975 7 3,724,116

"P/as/ic Warm Fig. 3

Ronald J. L/ndner Allen J. Lindner Nicholas .5. Adams 1m 'ENTORS Bend WEm FISH HOOK FOR USE WITH A PLASTIC WORM The present invention relatesto rigging a plastic worm, commercially acceptable type, on a long shanksproat hook and utilizing a cone-shaped lead or an equivalent slipsinker as a weight on the leader and pertains, more particularly stated,to a hook which is not only suitably adapted for use in conjunction withthe headed end of the worm but which features a self-containedleader-attaching and hook-locking eye which when properly embeddedanchors and holds the hook in a given or set position relative to thecomplemental worm.

No two manufactures agree on hook designs or precise specifications suchas have to do with the shank, eye, bend and the pointed barb. In fact,countless fish hooks of ever varying patterns and shapes have beendesigned in an effort to appeal to anglers in search of a type or styleof hook preferred at the time of use. The hook herein disclosed has beendevised and repeatedly found to meet with the preference of most anglersand their needs when employing anapproved plastic worm on a long shanksproat hook 'with a modified rounding bend having a short point andcorresponding short barb.

By way of introduction to the detailed description, it may well bepointed out that rigging a plastic worm on a long shank sproat hook andemploying in conjunction therewith a cone-shaped or an equivalent slipsinker on the leader and attaching the leader to an embedded eye on afish hook is not new, and, in fact, has been employed in many fishingareas for quite some time. The thus known method of rigging has certainadvantages particularly in fishing heavy brush, stumps or obstaclesparticularly in that the long thin flexible plastic worm can work itsway over and up through branches or trees, can crawl along the bottomover heavy rocks and at the bases of stumps and trees and because it issubstantially Weedless it reduces hang-ups to a minimum.

Briefly, the essence of the invention has to do with a fish hook whichis unique in that it lends itself to feasible use in combination with alife-like plastic worm, a leader on the fishing line and a conical orequivalent slip sinker which is freely slidable on the fish line. Thefact that the method of rigging, as above implied, is not new it will beevident at the outset that the disclosed invention pertains to astructurally and functionally novel fish hook, that is, an adaptationwhich is characterized by a long round shank having a trailing endjoined with an arcuately curved bend terminating in a pointed barb and aleading end which is bent and doubled upon itself and is formed into acomplemental substantially J- shaped or an equivalent terminaldoubled-over shank portion. This end portion constitutes a lineattaching eye, more particularly, an eye for the attachment of a leaderwhich carries the slip sinker, also an eye which is adapted to be whollyembedded and locked in an anchored position in the head or nose of theworm to prevent the worm from sliding down the shank. The eye not onlyprovides for attaching the hook to an end of the leader or fishing linebut holds the worm in its given position and obviates the objectionablepractice of piercing the head of the worm with a toothpick or a piece ofwire in an effort to thus anchor and lock the usual ring-like eye of thehook to the worm.

Anglers and fishermen in this field of endeavor are conversant with thefact that slip rigs are placed on the hook and then a toothpick is runthrough the eye and the ends are clipped off. In some cases instead ofusing a toothpick, a piece of wire is passed through diametricallyopposite sides of the head of the plastic worm and through the eye in amanner to prevent the worm from sliding down the shank of the hook everytime an obstruction is hit or when a small pan fish yanks on the tail ofthe worm. Undesirable slippage can be frustrating to the angler when ina heavy school of bass. In addition, no angler likes to replacetoothpicks when he can be busied catching fish. It follows that anobject of the present invention is to hold the worm securely in placewithout the need of any additional retainers such as toothpicks, wiresand the like.

As will be hereinafter more fully appreciated when the hook is properlylocated and set, it penetrates the plastic quickly and drives thepointed barb into the jaws of the fish. it constitutes a simplerelatively inexpensive and sure method of landing and catching largemouth bass.

With a view toward giving further background information in the instantmatter it can be pointed out that if the barb is too long it takeslonger to penetrate the plastic and consequently the mouth of the fish.In carrying out the principles of the present invention, the curved bendof the hook is provided with a short barb and also a complemental shortpoint.

It is significant to take into account that most hooks on the marketwere designed for purposes other than to be exclusively used for plasticworm fishing. An aspect of the concept pertains to the configuration ofthe disclosed hook in that when rigged the point is in an upwardposition immediately or directly under the surface of the skin of theplastic worm. On most hooks, this result does not occur and an anglermust set the hook extremely hard and sometimes two or three times inorder to assure himself that the hook has penetrated not only theplastic but has embedded itself in th mouth of the fish.

Most hooks have a straight shank and when rigged on a plastic worm theshank has to be adjusted and twisted before the point is set back in theworm so that the worm lays flat in the flat straight position and notundesirably twisted on the shank of the hook. It is reiterated that thehighly important aspect of the disclosed hook is that it relieves theangler of the bothersome task of threading a toothpick through theplastic, through the usual eye and out through the plastic again andthen having to trim the ends of the toothpick with a clipper or cutter.This has to be done. sometimes because after fishing for a limited timethe slip sinker and brush, branches and other obstacles in general tendto push the worm down the shank of the hook, making it practicallyunfishable. For proper hook setting the worm must slide back slightly,giving the worm a little slack to aid in driving the hook through theplastic and consequently into the mouth of the fish. Toothpicks and wiretend to keep the worm in a extremely rigid position and the angler isusually forced to set the hook extremely hard and often two or threetimes before he is sure that the barb has been properly driven into thejaw of the fish.

For additional background purposes and by evaluating the views of thedrawing it will be evident that by designing the eye in the manner shownand herein set forth the problems which are normally encountered aresolved. If follows that providing the desired doubledover shank portionand fashioning the same into an elongate eye embodying a J-shapedterminal portion and properly shaping the component parts, hookanchoring and holding means is provided which, as experience has shown,well serves the purposes for which the unique hook was devised. To theends desired, the hook-like bill portion of the J-shaped extension hasflattened surfaces which provide the desired anchor and achieve theresults desired with certainty and efficiency.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a fish hook constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention illustrating the preferredembodiment of the coacting component parts;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation showing the improved hook;

FIG. 3 is a view observing FIG. 2 in a direction from left to right;

FIG 4 is a top plan view, that is, a view looking down on either FIGS. 2or 3, as the case may be;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the aforementioned life-like plastic worm andshowing one of the steps, inserting the pointed barbed end of the hookin the nose or head with a view toward bringing the point of the hookout of one side and ultimately locating it in a position for finalsetting; and

FIG. 6 is a view based on and similar to FIG. 5 and showing theaforementioned rig, that is, how the plastic worm is associated with theready-to-use hook and how the leader is connected, theleader having theaforementioned slip sinker in position thereon.

With reference to the views of the drawing and particularly to FIGS.1-4, the improved fish hook, is denoted by the numeral 8. The shankembodies a longitudinally straight upper half portion 10 and an obliqueangled lower half portion 12 joined to the portion'10 by an appropriatebend 14. The usual curvate bend (at the bottom or trailing end in theviews of the drawing) is denoted at 16 and the terminal portion thereof18 is provided with a point 20 and an associated barb 22, these featuresbeing such that a short barb and a short point coordinate in achievingthe penetration and set result shown in phantom lines in FIG. 6. Theleading (leading when in use) end of the shank portion 10 is doubledupon itself as at 24 and embodies an extension which is here describedas a .l-shaped terminal end portion 26. This .I-shaped portion embodiesa tapering leg 28 having flattened surfaces 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2and also embodies a return bend or bight portion 32 which is joined witha bill portion 34 having flattened surfaces 36. This doubled-over shankand .I- shaped end portion 26 conjointly define an anchoring hook whichwhen embedded in the manner shown in As shown in FIG. 5, the step thereillustrated consists I of passing the line or leader through the slipsinker in the manner shown and tying the end of the leader in the crotchportion of the doubled-over shank portion 24. It is necessary infollowing the proper procedural steps to push the point of the hook intothe center of the worm about one-half inch. Then, the angler proceeds tobring the point of the hook out of the worm one-half in in back of thenose or head. It is advisable to pull the hook back through the wormuntil the special eye of the hook comes through the head of the worm.Then the worm is revolved on the hook until the point of the hook ispointed up. Next and as shown in FIG. 6, the angler proceeds to touchthe point of the hook to the worm and holds the hook firmly and pushesthe hook forward on the worm until the point is inserted into the wormabout three-eighth inch. With the point started into the worm, he pullsback and down on the worm until the point of the hook lacks aboutone-eighth inch from coming through the skin or surface of the worm.This procedure adjoins the hook and worm and provides the rig desiredfor satisfactory fishing results.

By designing the eye 40 in the manner shown and described the problem ofanchoring, embedding and locking the hook relative to the worm issolved. The J- shaped extension 26, the flattened surfaces 30 on the leg28 and flattened surfaces on the hook-like bill portion achieve thelocking result desired, and make clear the fact that the special purposeeye is the outstanding feature of the hook.

It is submitted that by considering the four views (FIGS. 1-4) showingthe hook and by considering FIGS. 5 and 6 in conjunction with thedescription thereof the subject matter of this invention will be clear.Under the circumstances, a more extended description is believed to beunnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in conjunction with a life-like plastic worm, a fish lineleader and a slip sinker shiftably mounted on a complemental end portionof said leader: an improved fish hook for rigging and retaining saidplastic worm thereon comprising a long shank embodying a firstlongitudinally straight half-portion and a second complementallongitudinally straight half-portion disposed at an oblique anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of said first half-portion, said shankbeing provided at a trailing end with a curvate bend, the terminal ofsaid bend being provided with a relatively short barb and acorresponding short point which is embedded in said worm to assume anupward biteresponsive locale immediately under the surface of theoriented skin of saidworm, the leading end of said shank being bent anddoubled upon itself to form a complemental terminal end portion which islocated alongside of and angled toward an adjacent side of said shank toprovide a line attaching eye, said eye being wholly embedded andself-retained when in use in the head of the worm to prevent the wormfrom sliding down the shank, whereby said eye holds the worm in itsgiven place.

2. The fish hook defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein saidterminal end portion is J-shaped and embodies a leg having a free endprovided with a return-bend defining a hook-like bill portion.

3. The fish hook defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein saidterminal end portion is J-shaped and embodies a leg having a free endprovided with a return-bend defining a hook-like bill portion, said legbeing tapered and angled toward and abutting the coacting peripheralsurface of said shank.

4. The fish hook defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein saidreturn-bend and bill portion have flattened surfaces which assist inanchoring and securing the over-all eye in a given position.

5. A fish hook which lends itself to use in combination with a plasticworm, a fish line and a conical or an equivalent slip sinker which isfreely slidable on the fish line, said fish hook comprising, a longround shank embodying a first longitudinally extending straighthalfportion and a second longitudinally straight half-portion disposedat an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis of said first half-portion,said shank having a trailing end joined with an arcuately curved bendterminating in a relatively short pointed barb and a leading end whichis bent and doubled upon itself to form a line attaching eye and isprovided with a complemental J- shaped terminal end portion which isadapted to be wholly embedded and locked in an anchored position in thehead of the worm to prevent the worm from sliding down said shank,whereby said eye provides for attaching the fish hook to an end of thefishing line and holds the worm in its given position.

6. The fish hook defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein theJ-shaped terminal end portion embodies a tapering leg which has a freeend portion directed toward and adapted to contact a surface of theshank portion, said leg being provided with a return bend which inconjunction with the leg constitutes a hook-like bill portion, certainsurfaces of the leg and bill portion being flattened to achieve the stepof positively locking the over-all eye in that portion of the worm inwhich it is embedded when in use.

1. For use in conjunction with a life-like plastic worm, a fish lineleader and a slip sinker shiftably mounted on a complemental end portionof said leader: an improved fish hook for rigging and retaining saidplastic worm thereon comprising a long shank embodying a firstlongitudinally straight half-portion and a second complementallongitudinally straight half-portion disposed at an oblique anglerelative to the longitudinal axis of said first half-portion, said shankbeing provided at a trailing end with a curvate bend, the terminal ofsaid bend being provided with a relatively short barb and acorresponding short point which is embedded in said worm to assume anupward biteresponsive locale immediately under the surface of theoriented skin of said worm, the leading end of said shank being bent anddoubled upon itself to form a complemental terminal end portion which islocated alongside of and angled toward an adjacent side of said shank toprovide a line attaching eye, said eye being wholly embedded andself-retained when in use in the head of the worm to prevent the wormfrom sliding down the shank, whereby said eye holds the worm in itsgiven place.
 2. The fish hook defined in and according to claim 1, andwherein said terminal end portion is J-shaped and embodies a leg havinga free end provided with a return-bend defining a hook-like billportion.
 3. The fish hook defined in and according to claim 1 andwherein said terminal end portion is J-shaped and embodies a leg havinga free end provided with a return-bend defining a hook-like billportion, said leg being tapered and angled toward and abutting thecoacting peripheral surface of said shank.
 4. The fish hook defined inand according to claim 3, and wherein said return-bend and bill portionhave flattened surfaces which assist in anchoring and securing theover-all eye in a given position.
 5. A fish hook which lends itself touse in combination with a plastic worm, a fish line and a conical or anequivalent slip sinker which is freely slidable on the fish line, saidfish hook comprising, a long round shank embodying a firstlongitudinally extending straight half-portion and a secondlongitudinally straight half-portion disposed at an angle oblique to thelongitudinal axis of said first half-portion, said shank having atrailing end joined with an arcuately curved bend terminating in arelatively short pointed barb and a leading end which is bent anddoubled upon itself to form a line attaching eye and is provided with acomplemental J-shaped terminal end portion which is adapted to be whollyembedded and locked in an anchored position in the head of the worm toprevent the worm from sliding down said shank, whereby said eye providesfor attaching the fish hook to an end of the fishing line and holds theworm in its given position.
 6. The fish hook defined in and according toclaim 5, and wherein the J-shaped terminal end portion embodies atapering leg which has a free end portion directed toward and adapted tocontact a surface of the shank portion, said leg being provided with areturn bend which in conjunction with the leg constitutes a hook-likebill portion, certain surfaces of the leg and bill portion beingflattened to achieve the step of positively locking the over-all eye inthat portion of the worm in which it is embedded when in use.